FMS: Approx. 200,000 Ukrainian nationals granted refugee status or temporary asylum in Russia
MOSCOW. Oct 23 (Interfax) - More than 225,000 Ukrainian nationals have requested Russia for temporary asylum or a refugee status, the Federal Migration Service (FMS) said.
"About 200,000 Ukrainian nationals have been grated a new status. Over 105,000 citizens of Ukraine applied for temporary residence permits," say materials released at a press conference of FMS head Konstantin Romodanovsky in Moscow on Thursday.
More than 5,000 Ukrainian citizens have lodged with the FMS their applications for joining the state program of compatriots' resettlement.
Over 1,796,000 Russian domestic passports have been issued in Crimea, the Federal Migration Service added. All government services are rendered in Crimea free of charge until January 1, 2015.
The FMS said it had started to issue international passports for traveling abroad in Crimea. About 3,000 applications for international passports have been filed and 164 passports have been issued.
